Category: therapy

Alcohol and drug addiction are serious issues affecting millions of people worldwide, but it’s something that no one has to face alone. Fortunately, many addiction support groups are available to those struggling with substance abuse or other related issues.

These groups provide a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to share their experiences and receive guidance on how to move forward in their recovery journey.

Continue reading to explore the different types of addiction support groups so you can find the right one for your needs!

Relevance is a drug addiction and mental health rehab center in New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more about our top-rated rehab in Monmouth County.

What is an Addiction Recovery Group?

An addiction recovery group is a type of support group specifically designed to help individuals struggling with substance abuse or other related issues.

Recovery support groups aim to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for members to share their experiences and receive guidance on managing their addiction more effectively.

What Are the Benefits of Addiction Support Groups?

These groups can be practical tools for recovery, as they offer members a unique opportunity to connect with others who understand what it is like to struggle with addiction.

They also provide an opportunity for individuals to gain valuable insight from the experiences of other group members.

What Are the Types of Addiction Support Groups?

Many different treatment programs are available, including peer-led 12-step programs, therapeutic support groups, and self-help support groups.

Each type of recovery group has its own unique approach and can be beneficial for different kinds of individuals.

It’s essential to take the time to explore the various options so you can find the one that best fits your needs.

Peer-Led 12- Step Programs

The first type of addiction support group is peer-led programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

This type of peer support group is made up of volunteers who have been through similar struggles with drug or alcohol abuse and are committed to helping others combat addiction.

Most peer support groups follow the twelve-step methodology, which consists of detailed guidelines for living a sober life and works toward identifying any underlying issues connected to substance use disorder in order to address them adequately.

Self-Help Therapy

Another common type of addiction support group is self-help therapy. 

Typically it involves participants sharing their personal stories and engaging in activities designed to build trust among members while improving communication skills associated with cravings and relapse prevention methods.

This type of therapy also works well with family members or close friends who are also affected by someone’s substance abuse. 

They can participate in these sessions together to better understand each other’s struggles and ways to provide mutual support throughout recovery efforts.

Therapeutic Support Groups

Therapist-facilitated support groups are also gaining popularity today due to the number of resources they provide. 

These groups incorporate evidence-based strategies coupled with professional counselors guiding participants through various topics surrounding addiction, such as shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, and relationship problems. 

In addition, therapists offer unbiased advice aimed at helping individuals achieve long-term sobriety goals.

How Can You Find an Addiction Support Group?

Finding an addiction support group can be as easy as doing a quick search online, attending meetings in your local area, or even asking your doctor for recommendations.

It’s important to remember that each person’s recovery journey is unique, so it may take some time to find the right type of program for you.

Relevance Recovery Offers Addiction Support Group Therapy in New Jersey

Recovery support groups provide a unique opportunity to connect with others who understand the trials of addiction and can provide insight into recovery. 

Relevance Recovery is a boutique addiction treatment center located in the heart of Freehold, New Jersey.

We provide different support group types, like family and group therapy sessions to help individuals struggling with substance abuse.

Our team of highly qualified professionals understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery and provides an array of personalized services tailored to each person’s individual needs. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, please don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information about our multiple pathways to recovery.

When you think of meditation, what comes to mind? For many people, the first thing that pops into their heads is an image of someone sitting in perfect silence with their eyes closed. 

While this is one common way to meditate, there are actually many different ways to do it. Read on to discuss types of holistic addiction treatments and how meditation is beneficial in recovery!

Relevance is a drug addiction and mental health rehab center in New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more about potential treatment options.

What is Holistic Addiction Treatment?

Holistic addiction treatment is a type of therapy that uses various methods to help individuals struggling with addiction. Typically, this can include meditation, yoga, breathwork, and creative activities, such as art or music therapy. 

Holistic treatments are designed to address the mental health, physical health, spiritual and emotional aspects of addiction.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is a practice that involves controlling one’s thoughts and feelings in order to reach a state of relaxation. 

It can involve breathing exercises, profound contemplation, or even just sitting in silence. Overall, the goal of meditation is to be entirely at peace and free from stress and anxiety.

How Does Meditation Work?

Meditation works by calming the mind and body, allowing a person to be present in the moment. It allows a person to gain control over their thoughts and feelings. 

This focus on being mindful helps reduce stress and anxiety and fosters healthier thinking.

Benefits of Meditation Addiction Recovery 

Now let’s take a closer look at how meditation is beneficial in recovery!

Reduce Anxiety and Stress

One of the most significant benefits of meditation in therapy is that it can help to reduce stress and anxiety. 

With the calming effects of meditation, it can be easier for a person to open up and talk about their feelings and thoughts. 

This can help facilitate better therapeutic conversations as well as more insightful healing.

Creates Acceptance 

Additionally, meditation can help to create a sense of acceptance for oneself. 

By being mindful and appreciating the present moment, it can be easier to accept oneself as they are. 

This can be a potent tool in healing from a complicated past or working through unresolved trauma.

Creates Self-awareness and Encourages Healthy Coping Mechanisms. 

Mindful meditation can help to create greater self-awareness and encourage healthier coping mechanisms, such as deep breathing and self-compassion. 

This can be incredibly useful for recovering from various addictions, including drugs or alcohol.

Creates Connection with Spirituality

Finally, meditation can help to create a connection with the spiritual side of life. 

Through meditation, it can be easier to tap into one’s inner peace and gain insight into purposeful living. 

This can encourage self-acceptance and an appreciation for life further.

What Are the Different Types of Meditation?

There are many different types of meditation, each offering unique benefits. 

These include mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, body and breath awareness meditation, and mantra meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation focuses on being in the present moment without getting distracted by thoughts or feelings from the past or future. 

Loving-Kindness Meditation

Loving-kindness meditation is focused on cultivating feelings of compassion and kindness towards oneself and others. 

Body and Breath Awareness Meditation

Body and breath awareness meditation focuses on the body’s physical sensations while breathing deeply. 

Mantra Meditation

Mantra meditation involves repeating a phrase or word to cultivate inner peace.

Which Meditation Works Best for Addiction Recovery?

The type of meditation that works best for drug and alcohol addiction recovery depends on the individual.

Everyone responds differently to different types of meditation, and it can be beneficial to explore other techniques to see which one resonates most with you.

However, mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation are both excellent options for those in recovery from an alcohol or drug addiction. 

Mindfulness meditation can help to increase awareness of one’s thoughts and feelings, while loving-kindness meditation helps to foster compassion and self-acceptance.

What Should You Look for In a Meditation Recovery Center?

When looking for a meditation recovery center, it is crucial to consider its approach and specialty. 

Ensure that the program is evidence-based, utilizes best practices, and has experienced staff members. 

Also, look for programs that offer various services, such as yoga, mindfulness training, nutrition counseling, and relapse prevention.

How Can I Find A Meditation Provider Near Me?

Finding a substance abuse meditation provider near you is easy. The best way to start your search is by asking friends and family for recommendations or checking online reviews. 

Additionally, it can be helpful to contact local therapy centers as many have experienced meditation therapists on staff.

Does Insurance Cover Meditation for Recovery?

Often, meditation for recovery is covered by insurance. It is essential to check with your provider to see if they cover any specific services related to meditation. 

Furthermore, numerous therapy and wellness centers provide discounted rates or sliding scale fees for those in need of addiction recovery services.

Relevance Behavioral Health Offers Holistic Meditation Addiction Recovery Services

Relevance Behavioral Health offers evidence-based holistic meditation drug treatment services tailored to addiction recovery, helping individuals get back on their feet and lead healthier lives.

Our knowledgeable and experienced team of therapists is devoted to offering personalized care tailored to each person’s needs for those requiring drug or alcohol treatment. If you are interested in learning more about how meditation can help boost your therapy sessions and holistic addiction treatment in New Jersey, please contact us today!

Addiction can feel like a lonely disease. It can be hard to admit that you have a problem and even harder to find the help that you need. That’s why group therapy is such an important part of addiction treatment. In group talk therapy, addicts come together to share their experiences and support each other through the recovery process. Group therapy for drug addiction provides individuals with the tools they need to stay sober and build healthy relationships. If you are looking for group treatment for drug addiction, read on for tips on finding the right program.

Relevance Recovery is a drug addiction and mental health rehab center in New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more about our top-rated rehab in Monmouth County.

What is Group Therapy?

Group therapy is a type of counseling that involves coming together with other people who are struggling with similar issues. 

In group therapy, members share their experiences and offer support to one another. Therefore, if you are struggling with addiction, group therapy can be a great way to find help and support.

What are the Types of Group Therapy?

There are many different types of group therapy, so it’s important to find a program that’s right for you.

Cognitive-Behavioral Group therapy (CBT)

First, cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBT) is a type of group therapy that focuses on changing the way you think about your addiction. 

In CBT, you will learn how to identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your addiction. 

This type of group therapy can be helpful for addicts who want to learn how to control their addictive behavior by altering their thought processes. 

Interpersonal Process Groups

Interpersonal process groups focus on the relationships between group members. 

In this type of group therapy, you will explore the way your addiction has affected your relationships with others. 

This type of group therapy can be helpful for addicts who want to learn how to rebuild healthy relationships with others.

Psychoeducational Group Therapy

Another form of group therapy, psychoeducational group therapy, focuses on education. In this type of group therapy, you will learn about addiction and recovery. 

Typically, this type of group therapy can be helpful for addicts who want to combat their addiction by learning more about their disease.

Skill Development Groups

Next, skill development groups focus on teaching new life skills. In this type of group therapy, you will learn life skills you may lack that can help you in recovery. 

Overall this type of group therapy can be helpful for addicts who want to learn new positive coping skills.

Support Groups

Finally, support groups are a type of group therapy that focuses on providing support. In a support group, you will share your experiences with others and offer support to each other. 

This type of group therapy can be helpful for addicts who want to build a support system.

Many of you may be familiar with aftercare support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, which are critical for maintaining sobriety over time. 

Why is Group Therapy Important?

Group therapy is important because it can help addicts in many different ways. Group therapy can help addicts:

• Share their experiences with others who understand what they’re going through
• Learn new coping strategies
• Build a strong support system among peers 

What to Look for in a Group Therapy Program

When looking for a group therapy program, it’s important to find one that’s right for you. Here are some things to look for in a group therapy program:

• A program that offers the type of group or individual therapy that you’re interested in
• A program that is appropriate for your level of addiction
• A local program that is convenient for you to attend
• A program that is within your price range

How to Find Group Therapy for Drug Addiction

Now that you know more about group therapy, you may be wondering how to find a group therapy program for drug addiction. 

Here are some ways to find group therapy for drug addiction:

• Contact your local mental health center or community center
• Search the internet for “group therapy for addiction”
• Call your insurance company and ask for a list of approved providers
• Talk to your doctor or therapist and ask for a referral

Relevance Offers Drug Addiction Group Therapies in New Jersey

If you’re looking for group therapy for drug addiction, Relevance Recovery offers a variety of programs that can help. 

We offer family group therapy, skill development groups for teens and adolescents, aftercare support groups, and more. 

We also offer a variety of other services, such as individual counseling, family counseling, and medication management. Contact us today for a personal consultation and to learn more about our New Jersey outpatient rehab programs!

Mindfulness in therapy is growing in popularity as a treatment for mental health and addiction issues. What is mindfulness therapy used for, and how can mindfulness therapies benefit recovery? This blog post will explore these questions and discuss the benefits of mindfulness therapy.

Relevance Recovery is a drug addiction and mental health rehab center in New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more.

What is Mindfulness in Therapy?

Mindfulness therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment. 

The goal of mindfulness in therapy is to help individuals learn to accept and cope with difficult emotions instead of trying to avoid or suppress them. 

Mindfulness therapy can treat a wide range of mental health and addiction issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and more.

Types of Therapies that incorporate mindfulness are:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR):

MBSR is a group therapy program that combines mindfulness meditation and yoga. Overall, MBSR aims to help individuals learn to cope with stress more effectively.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT):

Similarly, MBCT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that uses mindfulness meditation to help individuals manage their thoughts and emotions. 

MBCT effectively treats depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

Another form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals manage their emotions is DBT. 

DBT uses mindfulness meditation as well as other techniques such as problem-solving and cognitive-behavioral therapy. 

DBT effectively treats various mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, and more.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):

Finally, ACT is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals accept their thoughts and emotions.

ACT uses mindfulness meditation as well as other techniques such as acceptance and commitment therapy. 

ACT has also effectively treated many mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and more.

What is Mindfulness Therapy Used for?

Mindfulness approaches can treat a wide range of mental health and addiction issues.

Some mental health disorders that are treated with mindfulness therapies are:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Substance abuse
• Borderline personality disorder

What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness Therapy?

There are many potential benefits of mindfulness-based programs. Some of the most well-established benefits include:

• Improved mental health: Studies have shown that mindfulness-based therapy can help improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
• Reduced stress: Mindfulness-based programs can aid in the reduction of stress and help individuals learn to cope with stress more effectively.
• Improved physical health: Mindfulness-based rehab has been shown to improve physical health by reducing stress and improving sleep quality.
• Enhanced well-being: Mindfulness-based programs can help individuals feel more connected to their thoughts and emotions, leading to enhanced well-being.

How to Find Mindfulness-based Therapy in New Jersey

If you are interested in finding mindfulness-based therapy in New Jersey, there are a few ways to find a therapist:

• Ask your doctor or mental health provider about referrals.
• Contact your insurance company to determine which therapists are covered under your plan.
• Check out an online directory such as the one provided by the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

Mindfulness-based rehab can be an effective treatment for mental health and addiction issues. 

If you are struggling with mental health or addiction, consider seeking a therapist who incorporates mindfulness into their practice.

Relevance is a Mindfulness-based Therapy Center in New Jersey

At Relevance in New Jersey, our team of behavioral health specialists offers mindfulness therapy to help our clients recover from mental health and addiction issues. 

Our team of specialists is here to help you with support and tools to manage every step of your recovery journey!

In addition, our facility works closely with the aftercare program CFC Loud n Clear Foundation to provide our clients with the resources they need to continue their recovery after they leave our program. Contact us today for a consultation and to learn more about our top-rated rehab in Monmouth County!

The benefits and effectiveness of 12 step programs are known to millions across the nation and around the world. For more than 80 years, the basic elements of the 12 step philosophy have helped millions find and maintain lasting sobriety. Although the original 12 steps focused on helping those with alcohol use disorders get sober, today’s 12 step programs apply to addictions of all kinds.

What is a 12 Step Program?

The original 12 steps, created by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous decades ago, set forth a set of guidelines for the most effective way to overcome alcohol addiction. The original 12 steps relied heavily on spiritual guidance and principles, although one does not need to be heavily spiritual to fund success following the process and guidance of the program.

12-step programs are a method that allows recovering addicts to find and rely on the fellowship and support of others throughout all stages of their recovery journey. The basic idea of the original 12 step program (and today’s modern program) is that someone looking to heal from the struggles of addiction can help themselves (and others) overcome behavioral and substances addictions by supporting one another and seeking the support of a “higher power” throughout their recovery.

How are 12 Step Programs Used in Recovery?

12 step programs are an essential component of many rehab programs. The 12 steps also complement aftercare programs by providing an element of peer support and ongoing structure. In the early stages of recovery, 12-step programs help develop a sense of community by bringing together a group of like-minded and supportive peers who share similar struggles with addiction.

Participating in a 12-step program helps remove the sense of isolation and worry many newly recovered addicts feel in the first days after treatment. As part of a 12-step group, you develop a group of peers (some of whom have experienced relapse) who are there to support and guide you through the most challenging days of recovery. Often, these sober peers will remain a source of friendship and support for years to come.

What are the 12 Steps?

Today, not all 12 step programs follow the same format. Some closely adhere to the traditional 12 steps, while others may not remain as dedicated to the original AA steps. While the steps for some programs may follow different order or wording, the original 12 steps remain popular among many groups.

The original 12 steps set forth by the program founders help addicts progress towards long-term sobriety. Members can revisit or repeat any step at any time. The 12-steps as taken from the AA manual are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

How to Find 12 Step Programs Near Me

To learn more about 12 step programs near you, contact us at Relevance Recovery today. A member of our admissions team can provide information about how we integrate the 12 steps into our recovery and New Jersey aftercare programs and other therapy models offered at our New Jersey rehab center.

Substance use disorders affect millions of Americans of all ages. Thousands of programs are available throughout the nation to help those struggling with addictions to drugs or alcohol get sober and learn the vital relapse prevention tools necessary to remain free from addiction throughout their lives. In a New Jersey treatment program like Relevance Recovery, different therapy models, including traditional and alternative approaches, are used to offer a holistic or “whole person” approach to addiction treatment. Unlike many conventional rehab programs, holistic approaches include complementary therapies like yoga.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a spiritual practice used to promote physical and emotional health. The classical yoga practice includes many spiritual elements; however, traditional yoga, as practiced in the United States, is a series of physical postures and breathing techniques combined with meditation. There are several yoga styles. Some are very gentle and easily practiced by almost anyone, whereas others are physically demanding and complex.

Yoga practice has been around for more than 5,000 years. As a result, the practice has evolved and grown with time. As noted above, there are several types or branches of yoga. Perhaps the most familiar include:

Hatha Yoga

The physical and psychological branch of yoga that aims to focus the body and mind.

Raja Yoga

A branch of yoga that incorporates meditation and a strict adherence to a set of disciplinary steps called the eight limbs of yoga.

Karma Yoga

This branch of yoga looks to create a future mindset free from selfishness and negativity.

Bhakti Yoga

A yoga practice that aims to develop a positive, healthy way to channel emotions, acceptance, and tolerance.

Jnana Yoga

A yoga path that focuses on wisdom and intellect through study.

The popularity of yoga has also led to other types of yoga practice, including ashtanga yoga, hot yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kundalini yoga, power yoga, restorative yoga, vinyasa yoga, and Yin yoga. Many of these less historic yoga practices combine the concepts and ideas of the above branches into a more modern and sometimes more physically demanding yoga practice.

Is Yoga Used in Rehab?

Yoga is a complementary or “alternative” therapy model. This means that it is often used as a component of a comprehensive addiction treatment program. Yoga is not a replacement for traditional therapy models but rather a therapeutic model used in addition to conventional addiction therapy. Several studies suggest yoga is beneficial in all aspects of addiction treatment. Currently, yoga is used as part of substance abuse treatment programs to help with relapse prevention, reduce cravings and the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, and provide a lifelong coping tool to manage future triggers and daily stressors that often lead to relapse after treatment.

What are the Benefits of Yoga in Addiction Recovery?

Yoga has many benefits both as part of addiction recovery and a long-term healthy lifestyle. Regular yoga practice can help increase strength and stamina, reduce stress, relieve pain, increase energy, improve your sleep, and so much more.

Yoga for addiction recovery may help heal the brain and body. Long-term drug and alcohol use leads to changes in both the brain structure and how the brain functions. Yoga is believed to address and reverse many of those changes naturally. Additionally, yoga used in rehab settings offers many emotional benefits and spiritual benefits. Incorporating yoga into recovery programs helps you focus on your body and emotions. Yoga also enables you to develop self-awareness and take ownership of your behaviors and actions.

Other benefits of yoga for recovering addicts are increased energy, improved diet, and better sleep. These are basic needs that are often adversely impacted by withdrawal symptoms. When you “feel better” overall, you are physically and emotionally able better handle stressors and challenges that arise as part of your recovery journey.

How to Find Yoga Therapy for Addiction

When people talk about (or think about) yoga practice, they envision stretching and poses. But, the advantages of yoga go far beyond enhancing flexibility. As part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program at Relevance Recovery, yoga offers several short and long-term benefits. As part of addiction treatment, yoga can help you manage withdrawal symptoms and focus your mind on healing and recovering from addiction. Yoga is a healthy practice that provides lasting relapse prevention and physical and emotional health benefits in the long term. 
Contact us today to learn more about yoga therapy for addiction and New Jersey outpatient treatment programs.

Mood disorders are a challenge that impacts people of all ages. When you have a mood disorder, it affects your emotional state. While it is normal to experience changes in mood, when someone struggles with a mood disorder, the changes are extreme and sometimes unpredictable. Mood disorder symptoms often lead to prolonged periods of intense and overwhelming sadness, happiness, or both.

What is a Mood Disorder?

Mood disorders are a specific category of mental illness. The term “mood disorder” is used in mental health treatment to identify all types of depression and bipolar disorders.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Fifth Edition provides the diagnostic criteria needed to help mental health providers accurately assess the presence of a mood disorder. The most recent version of the DSM, released in 2013, categorizes mood disorders into two groups; bipolar disorders and all forms of depression.

Mood disorders can affect anyone regardless of age. Understanding mood disorders requires knowing what mood disorders are, what the symptoms of a mood disorder may be, and how they are treated as part of a New Jersey mood disorder treatment program.

What are Common Mood Disorders?

As previously noted, the category of “mood disorders” is divided into two smaller groups. These groups include diagnoses of major depressive disorders, Bipolar I, and Bipolar II disorders. Although each diagnosis is different, each “type” of mood disorder also shares common symptoms with the others.

Major Depressive Disorder

The DSM lists the criteria for major depressive disorder as having symptoms of depression, including extreme hopelessness, sadness, and emptiness for more than two weeks. These symptoms must also lead to a notable (significant) impairment in your day-to-day functioning.

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar I (previously manic depression) is characterized by manic phases. Someone with Bipolar I will have alternating states of high energy, activity, and euphoria followed by irritability and lethargy. During manic phases, a teen with Bipolar I may participate in activities that harm themselves or those around them. Unfortunately, stages of mania often lead to a disconnect between actions and consequences. Because of this disconnect, someone struggling with manic symptoms may not fully understand their actions’ hurtful or harmful effects on themselves or others.

Bipolar II Disorder

A Bipolar II diagnosis requires one to experience at least one episode of hypomania and other bipolar symptoms. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. They must also experience a bout of depression. This does not have to be present-day depression; it can occur at any time in the past or currently. A Bipolar II diagnosis requires you not to experience manic episodes.

What are the Signs of a Mood Disorder?

Regardless of the specific diagnosis, mood disorders will present with a combination of physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. Someone with a mood disorder may experience recurring physical ailments such as headaches, stomach pains, or fatigue. You may also experience difficulties with sleep, decreased energy, and changes in diet and weight.

Mood disorders cause emotional and behavioral changes as well. You may feel a wide range of emotions, including guilt, sadness, despair, and reduced self-esteem. You may lose the desire to spend time with social groups or participate in activities or hobbies you once enjoyed. Mood disorders make it difficult to focus on completing a task or staying organized. If your symptoms persist for more than two weeks or interfere with your ability to complete daily tasks, seeking help from a New Jersey treatment center like Relevance Recovery may help you better understand your symptoms and the steps to overcome them.

What is the Best Treatment for Mood Disorders?

The best mood disorder treatment combines therapy and (often) medications. Talk therapy is considered the most successful therapy used in mood disorder treatment. Widely used forms of talk therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is often used for various mental health conditions, including mood disorders and addiction treatment. CBT is considered the most widely researched therapy for mood disorders.

DBT sessions are designed to help you learn how to safely manage and regulate the emotions that stem from mood disorder symptoms. Another goal of DBT is to help someone with a mood disorder learn how to process stressful, upsetting emotions while improving strained relationships with family and friends.

For some, medications may help reduce the intensity of symptoms as part of a comprehensive retreatment plan. It is important to remember medications are not suitable for everyone. A member of our team of professionals at Relevance Recovery will work with you to determine how (or if) specific medications may help to alleviate the difficulties associated with some symptoms, especially in the early days of treatment. Commonly used medications include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotic drugs. If you are concerned about a mood disorder and would like to learn more about mood disorder treatment, let the team at Relevance Recovery help. Contact a member of our admissions team today to learn more about our programs and how New Jersey outpatient treatment at our mood disorder treatment program can help you.

There are several types of personality disorders. Some, such as paranoid personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are familiar to many, but these are not the only diagnoses treated in a mental health treatment program. Whether well-known or otherwise, millions of Americans of all ages live with personality disorder symptoms that may make accomplishing day-to-day tasks challenging.

What is a Personality Disorder?

Personality disorders are described as a category of mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy feelings and behaviors. Because there are several types of personality disorders, symptoms present differently from person to person and depending on their diagnosis. People with a personality disorder often exhibit rigid or inflexible behavior and thought patterns. It is not uncommon for someone with a personality disorder to struggle significantly with relationships. They will often have difficulties forging new relationships and maintaining existing ones.

Day-to-day stressors are also challenging to manage in ways that others, such as employers, family, or friends, find acceptable because the individual with the personality disorder finds their actions ok or “normal,” whereas others see them as socially unacceptable. This often leads to a common symptom of personality disorders called blame-shifting.

The person with the personality disorder may blame their social and personal challenges on others rather than consider they could be linked to a deeper problem. Blame-shifting behavior frequently causes significant problems in academic, personal, or employment environments. Without help and treatment, someone who struggles with a personality disorder will find they struggle with social and personal relationships.

What are the Causes of a Personality Disorder?

The root causes of personality disorders remain largely unknown. Despite ongoing and extensive research, these mental health challenges remain some of the least understood or recognized mental health disorders. Current studies suggest several factors, including genetics, substance use disorders, and trauma history, may contribute to personality disorder development. To date, there is minimal evidence to suggest personality disorders are present at birth; however, certain genetic factors may contribute to an elevated risk for their development as one gets older.

What are the Different Types of Personality Disorders?

When you seek help for a mental health concern, the first step in treatment is generally an assessment. Members of your treatment team will ask questions about your symptoms to learn more about your specific needs. The DSM-5 or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders provides specific diagnostic criteria for mental health providers to reference when assessing the severity of mental health or substance use disorders. In the DSM, personality disorders are separated into three clusters. Some people may experience symptoms from one cluster, whereas others may have symptoms from two or all three.

Cluster A: Suspicious

Cluster A personality disorders are those with symptoms connected to one’s opinions or thoughts about others. When someone has a cluster A personality disorder, they are often considered odd or eccentric. This cluster contains three diagnoses; paranoid personality disorder, schizotypal disorder, and schizoid personality disorder.

Cluster B: Emotional and Impulsive

Cluster B personality disorders consist of symptoms connected to how one treats or acts towards others. This cluster of disorders also focuses on symptoms concerning how the individual believes they compare to (relate to) others). Cluster B personality disorders generally contribute to unpredictable, emotional, or dramatic behavior. This cluster includes four diagnoses, including antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.

Cluster C: Anxious

This cluster of personality disorders focuses on symptoms related to how a person feels in their environment or relationships with others. Someone with a cluster C disorder will often act or behave anxiously or fearfully. Three diagnoses comprise cluster C, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), avoidant personality disorder, and dependent personality disorder.

How to Find Treatment for Personality Disorders

People with personality disorders do not often choose to seek help at a treatment center like Relevance Recovery. For this reason, many who struggle with symptoms will avoid seeking help to understand their emotions and how to take the first steps towards wellness. The unwillingness to acknowledge symptoms or seek help often holds true until their symptoms begin to interfere with their day-to-day lives. It is not uncommon for someone with a personality disorder, regardless of which type, to feel threatened by others, so voluntarily seeking out help feels counterintuitive and challenging what they think is “normal.”If you or a loved one struggles with a personality disorder, it is vital to seek treatment to manage your symptoms. The very nature of personality disorders makes acknowledging the need for help challenging. However, without the support and guidance provided at Relevance Recovery, symptoms will only worsen with time, making a recovery more complex and challenging. As part of treatment, you will also learn how to cope with triggering events or situations to manage emotions and challenges in the future better. Let our experienced and supportive staff help you take the first steps on your recovery journey. Reach out to our admissions team today for more information about our treatment programs in Freehold, NJ.

DBT is widely used in the treatment of substance use disorders. One of the core goals of DBT is to help patients build the confidence and coping abilities to effectively handle stressful situations. Some of the core principles of DBT—such as improving communication skills, coping skills, and self-image, are critical to helping those suffering from addiction move away from drug use. Dialectical behavior therapy can help those seeking addiction treatment learn several skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation, which effectively assist addicted people to stop using drugs and alcohol. 

DBT also focuses on changing an individual’s behavior and surroundings to make sobriety easier. DBT strategies include helping patients seek out environments and peer groups that discourage drug use. DBT encourages addicts to remove triggers such as drug paraphernalia or unhealthy relationships from their lives, to bolster self-esteem and confidence, and help patients stay sober through stressful periods. 

One of dialectical behavior therapy’s primary functions is to teach life skills that support sober living. This function is referred to as enhancing capabilities. Addiction can make it difficult for a person to take care of themselves. Making positive choices, following through on important responsibilities, and maintaining healthy behaviors can be challenging for someone addicted to drugs or alcohol. A DBT therapist helps clients recognize areas of their life that they need to work on. Once the therapist and client have identified these areas, they work together to develop an arsenal of life skills that fight these negative influences. 

Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on improving four major areas of a person’s life: 

• Emotion regulation skills: Negative and dysfunctional emotions can be triggers for substance use. If a person is unable to handle their emotions in a healthy way, they may be tempted to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol and relapse. Therapy sessions teach a person to regulate and relate to their emotions in a more productive way. 
• Mindfulness skills: Mindfulness teaches a person to be more aware and present in the moment instead of getting overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings that are tied to the past and future. By paying better attention to these things, a person is better able to create a more calm and balanced state of mind. This can also help to reduce stress, a trigger for relapse. 
• Interpersonal effectiveness: Relationships can become strained under the weight of addiction. Families, friendships, and work relationships often suffer as a person makes finding and using drugs a priority above almost everything else. Interpersonal effectiveness teaches a person how to improve their communication and relationship skills. 
• Distress tolerance skills: These sessions work to remove or reduce any self-sabotaging behaviors in a person’s life. Under the therapist’s guidance, a person will work to develop tools that can help them overcome crisis situations. They will also learn how to handle distress better. One way of doing this is by practicing radical acceptance. Radical acceptance encourages a person to accept the present moment instead of resisting it or exhausting themselves by fighting to change it.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI indicates anxiety disorders are among America’s most common mental illnesses. Recent surveys suggest that up to 19% of the 40 million American adults over age eighteen struggle with anxiety. Anxiety disorders are treatable with help and support. Sadly, like addiction and many other mental health conditions, few of those who could benefit from treatment ever seek the help they need. Data from the AADA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) shows that less than 37% of those with an anxiety disorder receive treatment.

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

NAMI defines anxiety as “a persistent and ongoing struggle that interferes with your day-to-day life.” Most people begin to experience anxiety symptoms during early childhood and adolescence. Often, these symptoms will persist through adulthood. It is possible to have one anxiety disorder or multiple diagnoses.

Unlike other medical and mental health conditions, anxiety is more than a singular diagnosis. Anxiety is a group of conditions, all related in some form. Each has unique symptoms but shares symptoms with other forms of anxiety as well. The most common anxiety symptom shared across all anxiety disorders is excessive, persistent fear in situations that should not provoke fear.

People with anxiety experience various emotional and physical symptoms. While symptoms may vary from person to person, most people experience irritability, feelings of dread, hypervigilance (always “on edge”), and feeling tense or jumpy. Common physical anxiety symptoms may include racing heart, insomnia, shortness of breath, stomach aches, fatigue, and sweating.

Research has not provided a sole risk factor or cause that increases one’s risk for developing an anxiety disorder. Several studies point to multiple factors, including environmental, genetic, and biological factors. Other factors include trauma, illness, and ongoing substance abuse.

What are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorder?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders or DSM is a manual used

by the mental health community to assess and diagnose the presence of a mental health condition. The DSM provides several criteria used by members of the treatment teams at Liberty House to understand anxiety disorders’ symptoms and the best treatment methods. Several types of anxiety disorder are listed in the DSM; however, five are more common than others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

When you struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, you will experience frequent anxiety symptoms virtually every day. Often, feelings of tension and heightened worry are present even when there is no “reason” to be fearful.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is characterized by two primary symptoms; obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent and unwanted thoughts that often “cause” someone with OCD to engage in compulsions. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that people recognize as hallmark OCD symptoms. Compulsive behaviors may include actions like checking, counting, or even hand washing. Compulsions or rituals are performed in the hopes of reducing the intensity and severity of obsessions. Compulsions are executed without fail. Compulsions can be time-consuming and cause significant interference with one’s day-to-day life. While they only provide temporary relief, failure to perform them often worsens anxiety.

Panic Disorder

Someone with a panic disorder experiences unexpected and recurring episodes of uncontrollable and overwhelming fear. This fear is also accompanied by physical symptoms, including stomach upset, difficulty breathing, and racing heart.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder often occurs after someone experiences an event that leads to harm or the threat of harm. There are many examples of events that can lead to PTSD, including accidents, assault, natural disasters, and witnessing or experiencing violence.

Social Phobias

Social phobias are also called social anxiety disorders. Social phobias lead to feelings of extreme self-consciousness when participating in everyday social situations.

How to Find Anxiety Treatment in New Jersey

If you or a loved one struggles with anxiety, seeking help at an anxiety treatment center in New Jersey can help. Our team of caring and compassionate treatment providers at Relevance Recovery are here to help you understand the challenges that lie at the root of anxiety so you can begin your journey to healing. Don’t let struggles with anxiety steal another day. Contact a member of our admissions team today to learn more about anxiety treatment at Relevance Recovery.